In Memoriam

Dr. Fuad Sami Haddad, MD (1924-2015)

Dr. Fuad Sami Haddad passed away on November 9, 2015. Dr. Haddad is considered the founder of modern neurosurgery in Lebanon and contributed significantly to the development of the specialty in the whole area of the Near and Middle East. Fuad graduated from medical school at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1948, and trained in neurosurgery under Dr. Wilder Penfield at the MNI. When he returned to Beirut, in 1955, there were no fully trained neurosurgeons in the majority of the countries in the Middle East and he became the cornerstone of science, morale, mentoring, and professionalism in the Middle East. (Excerpted from Mehmet Turgut’s article in Acta Neurochir (2016) 158:405-406)

Dr. Haddad maintained close ties with the Neuro, often writing birthday wishes and special greetings. On one occasion he sent a copy of an article he wrote in 2000 entitled “Fifty Years Ago” recalling his arrival in Montreal and his experiences at the MNI. The photo shows Dr. and Mrs. Haddad with Mrs. Penfield on a visit to the Penfield Estate on the shore of Lake Memphremagog.

Mary (Filer) Spence-Sales

Artist and sculptor passed away peacefully on January 29, 2016, in the Vancouver General Hospital at the age of 95. Predeceased by her husband, Harold Spence-Sales; she will be sadly missed by her family members and friends. First as a nurse, then as an artist, Mary contributed to The Neuro’s history starting in the days of Wilder Penfield. Her 1955 mural for The Neuro, The Advance of Neurology (in room 124), remains a point of interest for every visitor and tour group. In fact, identifying the faces of Penfield, Jasper, Cone and other Neuro figures depicted in the mural has become something of a rite of passage for new faculty and staff. The Neuro was fortunate to receive a second piece of Mary’s art, a glass sculpture, Neuressence in 2002, which hangs in the BTRC. Her art at The Neuro will keep her memory alive here and we gratefully remember her.

Michael McHugh (1949-2015)

Michael McHugh died on November 28, 2015 in Montreal at age 67 after a long illness. Born in 1949, he is survived by his wife, Dr. Molly McHugh, children Oriel (Dr. Maya Leitner) and Dr. Tobial McHugh, as well as grandson, Jacob. A graduate of Selwyn House, Michael worked at the Montreal Neurological Institute with Dr. Hanna Pappius for several decades, at McGill’s Faculty of Dentistry, and spent the last couple of years doing cutting-edge research on concussions.

Michael was a religious man with deep moral and spiritual convictions. He was loved by many, and he will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and many dental students at McGill for whom he was a father figure and mentor. (Source Selwyn House)